The Legend of Vox Machina Ep. 2

 

You can watch this episode right here.

We start this episode off with the dragon attacking a camp of soldiers. This show is doing a great job of showing how a scenario that might seem "basic" at first glance - a dragon attacking a kingdom - can be a top notch adventure or story. It's all in how you do it. I feel almost dumb for not having run a scenario like this.

The dragon wipes out a band of soldiers in the forest..

At the castle, the ruler confers with his council. Let's see if I can figure out the names of the NPCs in the castle are:

• Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei: The ruler, seems like a nice fellow.
  
• General Krieg: Jolly guy with a mustache.
  
• Allura: Blonde-haired human who accompanied the group on the airship last episode.
  
• Sir Fince: The shady guy.
• Lady Kima: Looks like a dwarf or halfling. Head of the city guard?

Vox Machina returns to the castle and talks to the sovereign. Fince thinks they should try to cut a deal. The general is impressed that the group survived.

Vax's dragon sense again goes off.

Leaving the castle, Vax and Pike go to buy something to kill the dragon with. They are going to... Gilmore's Glorious Goods.

One of the things I liked about the old D&D cartoon was the paintings of the different locales. In this show, they definitely don't skimp on depicting the different areas that the heroes inhabit. There's been a few overhead shots of the city that were insanely detailed, and this image of the shop is pretty great, too.

Gilmore really, really likes Vax. He has a "Lance of Dragon Slaying" (aka a dragonlance), which is 20,000 gp. The adventurers don't have that kind of money, so they toss Gilmore a few coins for info about blue dragons.

Gilmore breaks out a tome of dragon lore. "The wyrm shall only find defeat in the gorge where twin rivers meet." That's about it.

Scanlan and Grog are thinking about going to a brothel, when they spot Sir Fince. They follow him to a palatial estate. The rest of the group arrives at the mansion. They are having a hard time with the non-magical lock. Vax finally picks it.

As they explore the interior, it looks like this is General Krieg's home. Sir Fince is in the basement, looting a scroll from a wall of books. Sir Fince starts to explain, when he is run through. Sir Fince dies. General Krieg is the one in league with the dragon.

Krieg somehow loses the heroes, possibly using a secret door. Exploring the mansion some more, the group notices that Krieg really likes dragons.

Tiamat? Cult of the Dragon? What D&D lore, if any, are they allowed to use on this show? Probably none, right?

It turns out that a life-size erotic painting of a dragonborn that Grog is drooling over is also a portal that can be stepped through.

Stepping through, they enter into an icy cave. In this cave is a massive pile of treasure.

Check that out. That's like... a Dragon's Lair treasure hoard.

General Krieg is here. "The age of man is coming to an end. When dragons ruled all of Tal'Dorei..." Krieg transforms. He is the blue dragon.

The dragon takes flight, making it difficult for the group to hit it. Vax notices cracks of energy in the neck of the dragon, "Where the two rivers meet."

The adventurers are hit by the lightning breath, but when the smoke clears, they are hurt but still standing. Vax cuts it in the neck, then Pike uses magic to make one of Vex's arrows like Hank's from the cartoon. The dragon is hurt badly. Grog charges and reduces it to a bloody mess.

Grog takes a tooth from the dragon as proof it's been slain. The entire cave is collapsing. Scanlan grabs just a bit of loot and the heroes flee through the portal.

Vox Machina are declared protectors of the realm, and are honorary members of the council of Tal'Dorei.

The group opens their reward chest. Inside are keys and a scroll. The group has been given the deed to a keep.

Krieg may have been part of a larger plot. There will be a banquet. Several dignitaries are on the way.

We cut to the dignitaries traveling by coach. They are Silas and Delila Briarwood. Bandits spring a trap. Silas slaughters the bandits, literally punching through one dude's abdomen. An ominous way to end the episode. I assume, if I was familiar with Critical Role, this would be an awesome reveal.

Thoughts

Good show! Not as epic as the first episode, but they totally won me over, and now I'm on board for the duration. It felt like this story could have been stretched out for another episode or two.